Ocean Beach Dental

I first went to OB dental as a community college student on my own in San Diego. I was 20 years old and these people tried to take advantage of me. My dental insurance was due to run out in 1 week so I went in for my 6 month cleaning.
I did not need X-​rays, told them I didn’t need them or want them and my old dentist in Illinois had my X-​rays from 6 months ago, but they bustled me into the room and said all first time patients need X-​rays. And just did it anyways.
I saw the dentist for all of 1 minute and 30 seconds when he popped in, glanced in my mouth and said my teeth were near perfect. Then the hygienist– a man with a big mole on his face took over. He seemed more like a used car salesman than anything.
He told me I needed a special treatment to clean around by gums. I said no thank you. He said I really needed it. And he would not charge me. He did this simple procedure with that vibrating gum drill thing. He insisted I make another appointment because it was a two step process but would only offer me appointment dates after the expiration of my insurance. I only agreed to an appointment before the expiration despite him telling me «insurance is pretty lenient, they don’t mind if it’s a few days past.» I went back, he finished up, and walked out and told the secretary that the procedure was free. I heard him tell her.
A month later my mom got a bill (with her great state provided insurance) for over 1,000 dollars. It was such a mess. They eventually «fixed the errors» after we told them my aunt is a dentist and was going to report them to the ADA.
6 months later I got a voicemail saying I missed an appointment I did not make-​WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE WITH THEM. Then went through dealing with their fraud again.
Despicable.

I have gone to this dentist twice now and I love them, this last Thursday I needed overseas screening paperwork signed so I arrived at 8am and no one was there, after calling and texting eventually the dentist answers and very politely reminds me they are closed Thursdays (which it clearly says on their message system — don’t I feel silly! I thought it was Friday) not only wasint he rude or irritated he told me to come by after 10:30 that day and he would sign my papers! On their closed day! Yip my kind of service! I recommend them to all my fellow military dependents!

I love this place and have been going for years. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and they have a very comfortable and non-​stuffy vibe that I have experienced in many other dental offices. Dr. Navarro is a great dentist who has always been personable and very thorough when answering my questions. Charles, the hygienist, is top-​notch. He has been taking care of me for years now and this is the second dental office I have followed him from. He does a very thorough job in cleaning and really goes out of his way to make sure I am fully taken care of, whether it be with my insurance company/​billing or with any questions I throw at him in regards to dental care and upkeep. My teeth and gums have been the healthiest they have been in many years (age 44 as of writing this) and I give Charles a ton of credit for this.

I really do prefer to write good reviews, but I also like to be honest. As a military wife I’m constantly looking for new «everything» including, but not limited to dentists and hair-​dressers. Thank god I have found a good hair-​dresser because I’m struggling with the dentist thing.
I was excited that OB dental accepted tri-​care and was walking distance from my house. As another Unilocaler, Anne, mentioned, the owner, Charles is very nice, but I think he is still learning the business aspect of dentistry.
First, the actual dentist is not even there most days. If you go in for a routine appointment and they find something questionable, you have to schedule another appointment when the dentist is there.
Second, their scheduling system is not in tune. They will call, text, call again, change your appointment, call again, have another person call, call from a different number, change the day, change the time… you get the point.
Example: I was supposed to go in for a new crown. I scheduled the appointment, sweet, done. They called 5 different times to change the time and day. I was frustrated but wanted to give them a chance. The day before my appointment they called saying the dentist was still on vacation and they needed to change my appointment again. Frustrated, I told them to cancel it altogether because I couldn’t keep changing my schedule. She said sorry. Then, I kept getting phone calls apologizing and offering me free services to makeup for it. I’m sorry, but you need to get this figured out if you expect people to come back. Please understand that people are busy and can’t take numerous phone calls from their dentist to change appointments. Also, it is very unprofessional that your receptionist can be seen smoking from the parking lot. Charles, I hope you can get things in order, because you are a great hygienist.

I was on vacation in San Diego having a wonderful fish taco and thought I had bones in my wahoo taco. OMG, it was my dental bridge! Called and Pam understood my concern and told me to come in right away. Dr. Paul and Katy were wonderful in making me feel at home and recemented my bridge. Thank u, Bernice from Philadelphia, PA.

Do yourself a favor «stay away» they should not be allowed to practice .Then to top it off 6 months later i receive a bill telling me its 90 days late.

I went to take my mother in law to this dental office. I was very weary of them but decided to get my teeth cleaned anyways while I was there. The dental hygenist was EXTREMLY gentle and for the first time it didn’t hurt! I will continue to use them and recommed them to others. My mother in law who has no insurance was very pleased as well. they gave her a great deal for paying cash. I plan on getting implants there very soon

The Good: My family and I have been going to Ocean Beach Dental with Dr. Gardner for almost 20 years. Dr. Gardner was the best. We loved the family atomosphere and that everyone knew us. It was great.
The Bad: Dr. Gardner is in the process of retiring/​has retired and in the last year or two the practice was sold to a new owner and as a result of the new management, long-​time, super-​awesome hygenist, Wendy, left the practice.
The Even Worse: The new owner, Charles, is charming and personable, but is not as scrupulous as Dr. Gardner and family. He has pushed a laser gum treatment on every one of my family members (at the cost of approx. $ 1,000) and upon later review we didn’t all need it. In the past, we always came in twice a year for teeth cleaning, now Charles is constantly «recommending» we «follow up»…all at a cost. Clean the teeth. Make an appointment for a «follow-​up». Gum treatment. Make an appointment for a «follow up». The dental practice now feels like a giant money machine. I have no faith in the new owner or would not recommend him to anyone. My family and I have moved to a different dental office as a result.

I don’t know what happened to this place, but I went here twice and after calling for my six month check up, their number is disconnected and their website has vanished! :-/
Anyway, if they ever come back around, here is my review.
I seriously LOVE the dentist! It feels fantastic once these pearly whites are all clean and polished up. Sure, anything other than a cleaning is no fun, stressful, expensive and just plain boring, but I accept the cleanings with open arms. In fact, I always leave smiling. :D
Early last year I found this dentist while driving along Sunset Cliffs. Once I made the appointment I’ve only dealt with friendly staff. Th dentist is so personable and doesn’t make me feel as bad as she could when I tell her I only floss twice per week (oops!). Even on my second cleaning I was telling her that getting fluoride treatment as a child was my favorite part of the dentist (it isn’t included in cleanings as an adult) and she threw on a creamsicle fluoride treatment for free!
I’m sad that Ocean Beach Dental is no longer up and running (hopefully for the time being?) because I really liked them and I would go back to her in a heartbeat.